Unless you're hiding under a rock - and Edmonton Oilers fans, we wouldn't blame you if you'd found yourself a nice hole to crawl into this morning - you already know by now that first-overall pick Connor McDavid suffered a broken clavicle and is expected to be out "long-term." It's a significant blow for the Oilers, who probably weren't expecting playoffs, but were certainly hoping, and for the NHL as a whole. McDavid is the kind of talent who can become the new face of the NHL and the league will miss his contributions for the foreseeable future, both on the ice and in the stands.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Kings No. 1 center Anze Kopitar took a big elbow from Ryan Reaves during a Tuesday night game against the St. Louis Blues and was clearly shaken up afterwards. Kings head coach Darryl Sutter indicated that Kopitar is "feeling better," but that the team still put him through the league's concussion protocol.
"I talked to him after. He's feeling better," Sutter said, via LA Kings Insider. "That's good. [Reporter: Did they do the concussion and quiet room stuff?] Yeah, that's where he was. Obviously, protocol."
Kopitar hasn't exactly been lighting up the score sheet 12 games into a contract year - he's got just four points, all goals, thus far - but if he's lost for any amount of time, it will be a big blow for a Kings team that has just begun to round into form after starting the season on an 0-3-0 skid.
For Boston Bruins forward Chris Kelly, there's no question as to the severity of his injury. Kelly fell awkwardly, his leg bending in an unnatural way early in the first period of Boston's game against the Dallas Stars.
Afterward, it was revealed that what the B's were calling a "lower-body injury" is actually a broken femur. Kelly will undergo surgery and miss approximately 6-8 months, the team announced.
While Kelly's not a big on-ice producer, he is an important part of the Bruins locker room and will likely be sorely missed.
